Chapter 1 Ideas, People, and Economics in Texas Politics

Changing Face of Texas Population Growth in the 1990s  Largest decade increase in state’s history – 3.9 million  Growth in all 27 metropolitan areas, most of its counties, and most of its towns and cities  Population became even more ethnically diverse  Population is aging Effects of Population Growth  Workforce education  Demand for education  Demand for social and human services

People of Texas: Native Americans Four Traditions  Hunters and Gatherers: Coahuiltecan and Karankawan tribes  Plains Indians: Tonkawas, Kiowas, Kiowa Apaches, and Comanches  Puebloan Culture: Jumano  Semisedentary tribes: Wichitas, Caddoes

People of Texas: Native Americans

Three Reservations remain  Alabama-Coushatta  Tigua  Kickapoo Native Americans and politics  Gambling: Tiguas and Speaking Rock Casino

People of Texas: Hispanics Four institutions  Mission  Presidio  Rancho  Towns or civilian settlements Small percentage of population until 20 th Century  1836, 7-8,000  1850, 14,000 (7 percent)  1887, 83,000 (4 percent)  1890 – 1910, population doubled  Late 1940s, Hispanics replaced African Americans as the largest ethnic minority

People of Texas: Hispanics Hispanics and Politics  2,170 Hispanics were elected officials in 2007  Victor Carrillo (RRC) and David Medina (Texas Supreme Court) hold statewide elected offices  37 Hispanics served in the Texas Legislature  271 were county officials  595 were municipal officers  402 held judicial and law enforcement positions  807 served on elected school boards

People of Texas: African Americans Early African American immigration  Inhabitants since Spanish rule  No more than 12 percent until 1836  Increase after Texas independence—20 percent of population by 1840 Bulk of Settlement—  Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and Mississippi  By 1860, 13 counties had African American majorities  All located in East Texas  By 1887, 12 counties had majorities  By 1930, only 4 counties had majorities  By 1980, none of the counties had a majority

People of Texas: African Americans African Americans and Politics  2001, 460 African Americans held elective office in Texas  Ninth in the nation in number of elected officials  Sixteen African Americans in legislature  2005, three African Americans held statewide elected offices—Michael Williams (RRC) and Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson and Associate Justice Dale Wainwright

People of Texas: Asian Americans Early Immigrants  Chinese who worked on railroads from 1869 to the 1880s  Early 1900s, Japanese to help with rice cultivation Recent Immigrants  Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s  Largest number in Houston Asian Americans and Politics  Few elected officials  House member Hubert Vo

People of Texas: Anglos Early Immigrants  1815 – 1836, primarily upper Southerners from TN, KY, AR, NC  1836 – 1865, primarily lower Southerners from AL, GA, MS, LA.  1850, approximately equal in population  Settled different areas of Texas—lower Southerners in East and Southeast Texas  1880s, West Texas settled by upper Southerners and lower Midwesterners (IL, KS, and IA)

Contemporary Population Population Growth  Nearly 24 million in 2007 estimate. Growth result of net in- migration and natural increase. Balance predicts high future growth rates. Urbanization  84 percent urban in  27 metropolitan areas--91 percent of growth  Highest growth in central core and along the border with Mexico  Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas are among 10 largest cities in the United States

Contemporary Population Diversity  Hispanics made up 36 percent of the population in 2006, growing by 54 percent between 1990 and  African Americans made up 12 percent of the population in 2006, growing by 19 percent during the 1990s.  Anglos made up 48 percent of the population in 2006, increasing by less than 10 percent during the 1990s. Population Projections  Anglos ceased to be a majority in  Hispanics will become largest ethnic group before  Hispanics will become a majority by 2030.

Texas Population Projections

Components of Texan Creed Individualism  Reasons for immigrating  Texas Frontier era  Cowboy Liberty  Reasons for Revolution of 1836  The Alamo

Components of Texan Creed Constitutionalism and Democracy  Limitations on government  Bill of rights Equality  Among Anglos based on property ownership  Slavery, segregation, and discrimination against minorities

Political Ideologies A political ideology is a consistent set of beliefs and attitudes about the scope and purpose of government. Libertarians: Individualism Populists: Equality and Social Order Conservatives: Individualism and Social Order Liberals: Equality and Individualism

Political Ideologies LiberalsPopulists LibertariansConservatives Individualism Liberty Ordered Liberty Social Order Equality Individualism

Economic Heritage Cotton was basis for the first economy  Southern planters  Crop barged to Gulf of Mexico  Shipped to Europe or U.S. through New Orleans  Galveston was commercial center from 1840s to 1880s

Economic Heritage Cattle Kingdom dominated from late 1800s Petroleum basis for Texas economy during much of the 20 th century  Spindletop was first major discovery in  West Texas oil industry established in  East Texas field was largest find in 1930.

Contemporary Economy Since the 1980s, the Texas economy has become more diverse, more nationalized, and more globalized. Diversity in products and economic activities Nationalized because the Texas economy resembles the U.S. economy although grew at faster rate from Globalized in distribution of goods and economic competition

Wealth and Poverty in Texas Texas is one of the most unequal states in income distribution—9th among the 50 states in 2005 Poverty more pronounced in Texas than in other states—16.3% in 2007  Hispanics have highest poverty rates (25%)  African Americans have next highest rates (24%) The distribution of income affects political involvement

Income Differences, 2006 Bottom 20 % Second 20 % Middle 20 % Fourth 20 % Top 20 % $16,088$30,076$44,574$64,197$126,504

An Income Tax for Texas Arguments for an income tax  Fairer than sales tax or property tax  Deduction from federal income tax  Additional revenues for funding state’s programs Arguments against an income tax  Higher tax burden for Texans  Harm Texas’s favorable business climate  Public opinion opposes an income tax

An Income Tax for Texas  Kansas income tax rates, brackets, and deductions—brackets range from 3.5 percent to 6.45 percent adjusted gross income, no tax for family of four with income under $24,400.  Results in 2004: $16.4 billion in revenue. Lower school property taxes (.20/$100 assessed valuation), deductions on federal income tax ($1.6 billion), and $3.9 net cost to Texas tax payers.  Results by income group: lowest fifth: 6% less, middle fifth:.5% less; top fifth: 2% more.